Intellectuals confused between capability and academic degree?

Within hours of taking oath as India’s 28^th Cabinet Minister for Human Resources Development, a prominent and articulate face of BJP on TV, Smriti Irani has been dragged into controversy by her opponents and intellectuals citing she is not capable enough to handle the ministry as she is educationally not so sound. India is fortunate to have its first woman cabinet minister since independence. Smt. Sheila Kaul was the first Minister of State for HRD, served under Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi in 1981-1984.

The newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone through the bio-data of all probable leaders who were to be sworn-in as ministers in his council. It is the prerogative of Prime Minister to allocate portfolios to the elected representatives. In a democratic system, people can criticise over decisions taken by the elected government and it must be accepted graciously by the people in power. But as a constructive and matured opposition, we need to examine whether the criticism will do any benefit to society to which we owe or just satisfying egos. In a case of Smriti Irani’s educational qualification controversy, I don’t think there is any need to make a fuss about. A tweet by senior Congress leader about Irani taking a jibe saying she is not ‘even a graduate’ signifies his mental bankruptcy. His mind has apparently stopped thinking positive and constructive vibes have been confined to particular ideologies, individual or party. Good works must be appreciated and bad must be criticised.

Capabilities and educational degree are two different things. We cannot afford capabilities to go waste just because having no educational or paper degree. Though in our country there is no prescribed educational eligibility for a person to become an MP or an MLA, and there is no legal hurdle that can stop the same from becoming a minister. Even then a bunch of self

proclaimed intellectuals opposed her elevation for a heavyweight portfolio. Executive, legislative and judiciary are three branches of government. The ministers and bureaucrats fall under the category of ‘executive’. The term executive are divided into two parts i.e. temporary and permanent executive. The minister comes and goes so falls under temporary category while bureaucrats are the permanent executive. The work of temporary executive is to give direction and ideas and there are designated officials who implement the ideas. Dealing with CMs and VCs will be the least of her headaches and policy-related issues; she will work closely with Modi, as the PM is known for monitoring closely the developments.

India has witnessed ministries held by Harvard and other Ivy League alumni, yet they have at times failed to rise up to the expectations. We had an internationally acclaimed economist Prime Minister and we all are aware of our state of economy, currently. So my only point is we should give her time to perform and if she doesn’t perform, it, the government has full authority to replace her.

I do not want to go into details about ministers who excelled in their fields despite not having obtained excellent academic qualifications. I have been a vehement critic of former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who is an engineer by profession. I would hereby like to draw the attention of all ‘intellectuals’ who need to be a

scholar to head the HRD Ministry. All you need to do is visit Bihar’s villages to closely monitor the quality of teachers appointed by state education minister PK Sahi’s department. The teachers there are allegedly teaching everything wrong. The concerned minister is known to be highly qualified. Another instance is of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who is an IIT alumnus.

Conclusively, a good judge may not be a good lawyer, a good lawyer may not be a good judge.

Aam Aadmi never takes U-turn in haste

Angry young Aam Aadmi

If you want to contest Delhi assembly elections on Aam Aadmi Party ticket, you will have to go through by the party’s guidelines and principles, as taking no government vehicles, no use of red beacon and government bunglows were the main points for seeking ticket from AAP, besides clean image. The congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are corrupt and hand in gloves on the issue of corruption, so will not either seek or give support to these parties in government formation.

On 28th of December last year, Arvind Kejriwal took oath of Chief Ministership with the outside help of the party to whom he always

Lavish Bunglow @ Bhagwan Das Road

accussed of corrupt. After becoming the Chief Minister, Kejriwal asked for double house so that he can use one house for residence while other for office. The house was allotted on Bhagwan Dass Marg, but due to criticism in public and media in particular, the Chief Minister had to change his move and asked for simpler house.

There are many instances where Kejriwal had taken an U-turn on the issue. Earlier he had said that he would not contest the Lok Sabha election but today he expressed his desire and said, if party asks then he is ready to contest. During agitation against scams in Commonwealth Games Scam, the same man Kejriwal had file an FIR against then Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit for an alleged involvement in scams, no he is retracting from his statement. He asked the opposition to provide an evidence against her, if has. On the issue of passage of Jan Lokayuktta Bill, he had said after swearing in as the Chief Minister that the Delhi will have this law within 15 days but nearly more than 20 days have been passed and no initiation has been taken place.

The AAM aadmi wants the AAP should deliver in Delhi first then think of PAN India image. But the political pundits failed to understand that what actually Kejriwal and his team want, why thet are in hurry?? Whether he has done any kind of deal with congress to stop BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi or something else?   

Tehelka rapegate: A blot on Indian media fraternity

It is said that independent media plays a pivotal role in shaping and reshaping the structure of country, as it usually shows mirror to different segment of society and state machinery. Media always stands for uprightness, ethics and morality but what you will say if it goes against what it stands for.  About half a month ago, a young, dynamic and ambitious journalist was allegedly raped by her father figure mentor and Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal. On opposing the act, Tejpal said to woman there is only way to sustain your job, else you will be fired out. This act was also continued on second day of fest. There is no doubt that the magazine had done numerous wonderful stings, stories and exposed the institutions of mal governance and corruption. Mr. Tejpal outraged the modesty of the woman and under new rule of law, the act which he did withhis colleague falls under the offence of custodial rape. After more than a week of hide and seek game, on 29^th of November he came out in media and said he will cooperate the police in interrogations.

After hearing the anticipatory bail plea, the session court of Pannaji rejected his appeal and was arrested by the Goa police. This was all about what he did. Prior to playing hide and seek game, he had sent a mail to woman journalist asking for forgiveness and forgets. But when it comes in public domain he along with magazine’s Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury started maligning her image and her character was being assassinated. Before anything could have happened, Tejpal gave it’s a political discourse. He blamed the BJP for conspiracy theory and it is their plank to bring down his reputation. The BJP made every effort to book him whereas the Congress chose to remain silent on the issue and let the law take its course.

Many young and budding journalists resigned because of the manner in which case was handled by the management. At last, the Managing Editor of the company also stepped down to cooperate with the police in investigation.

Tejpal’s act has not only shocked the media fraternity but the nation as well.

Just about six months ago, the Government of India had enacted a law in order to protect women from sexual harassment at work place, instructing all the organisations to set up an anti-sexual harassment cell. But the magazine who preaches gender sensitisation, liberty and equality does not follow the law. The Supreme Court had also asked to follow Vishaka guidelines but the organisation didn’t pay any heed to it. It’s also a contempt of court order and the management should be booked under prescribed act. It has also brought disrepute to media industry the way Tejpal gave a flip flop statements in a week and questioned the integrity of the victim.

Goa police has got extension of his custody by four more days as he had already spent six days police detention. On the other hand the Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar said that the justice will be done to both, the victim and the accused, by setting up a fast track court. Common man thinks media is a potent force in Indian democracy, as it helps in getting justice but what about if injustice will be done to its employee by bosses/masters?